Chocolade Jacques has decided to end its sponsorship with Christophe Sercu's squad at the ends of this year, but that doesn't mean the end of the team according to the team manager.
"We regret the decision of Chocolade Jacques of course, but would like to formally thank them for their support of the team over the course of the last four years," Sercu told Sports Wereld. "Thanks to their help we have been able to bring the team up to their current level and the results that brings."
"Thanks to the continued trust and engagement of our head sponsor Topsport Vlaanderen, our bike sponsor Eddy Merckx and our other partners for the team, we can guarantee even now that the team will continue next year as a professional continental team," he added. "The objective of the team will be the same" to give the chance to young talented rider to develop in the perfect manner before they make the step up to the ProTour ranks."
The committee of Eddy Merckxvrienden, who are responsible for the financial side of the team, will now concentrate fully on acquiring one or more new sponsors for the team. "Even though the current climate of cycling is not at its optimum, we are confident that we will be able find a sponsor to invest in our project."
